Jeremy's World

A friend of mine recently posted on his blog that he and his wife just got a minivan.  In writing about it, Fred points out how "conforming" (buying a minivan) actually is rebellion since today is the day of SUV’s for soccer mom’s.  Minivans are so 1998 and therefore, cool again in a non-conforming, rage against the machine kind of way.  Ok, Fred was kidding (sort of) with the post.  But it got me thinking…

Is "conforming" really an uncool, bad thing?

I’m not convinced it is, ’cause, well, if it is, then I’m way not cool.  I am proud to state the following about this average guy:

• I enjoy reality TV, particularly "American Idol."
• I don’t get the infatuation with bands like the Mildewed Oranges (or whatever they are called).  It’s acoustic guitar with a melody that is hardly impressive.  What’s the appeal?
• I love NFL football.  Not college, not European Football (soccer), not rugby…the regular old NFL.
• I watch and enjoy mainstream television.  "24" is pretty cool and "King of Queens" reruns can keep me entertained for hours.
• I watch and laugh my ass off at comedians like Larry the Cable Guy.
• I don’t like wine.  I guess I’m unsophisticated.
• I can spend the better part of the day watching VH-1 "Behind the Music" marathons on TV and not feel badly about it.
• Movies like "Vantage Point" (which my wife and I recently saw) entertain me.  Movies don’t have to be all deep and moving to be good.  See most any Sandra Bullock movie, which I usually also find entertaining.
• I like some contemporary country/rock music.  I’m a rocker, but I like me some non-twangy country (I’m looking at you Keith Urban and Little Big Town).
• I don’t get Twitter.  (Note: It’s the rage right now at work…maybe I’ll understand why someday).  Same goes for Second Life.
• I’ll read David Baldacci before poetry of any kind.
• Microsoft is not evil.
• I’m going to see Bon Jovi next month (that’s 2008, not 1988) and I can’t freakin’ wait.
• I prefer pleats in the front of my pants.
• King of the Hill > Family Guy.
• I prefer Leno to Letterman.

I’m sure there are a thousand more examples.  I guess what I’m saying is, I can like the same mainstream things that the majority of people like and not be a dork.  "Conforming" does not mean uncool.  If it does then, well, I’m proudly uncool.